Christopher Martens Email & Phone Number

Wrote a musical on Babe Ruth based on my book "My Dad, the Babe" titled "Bambino" which tells the amazing, revealing story of his only daughter Dorothy's search for the identity of her real mother. Wrote a screenplay based on my life as a 17-year old baseball phenom - a cross between "Ordinary People, "Frances", and "All the Right Moves."Wrote proposals, budgets and treatments for documentaries and reality shows that are currently being pitched to networks. Lectured at universities on Journalism, TV production, Art of Interviewing, Documentary Filmmaking, Jews in Baseball, Baseball Goes to War, and the greatest athletes of the 20th Century.

Baseball Tonight/ESPNEWS (2007-2011)Direct a 25-person staff in all aspects of the planning and execution of one of ESPN's premiere sports news and analysis programs. Generate and execute creative initiatives and features, with emphasis on ideas which can be leveraged across multiple ESPN platforms. Mentor and develop talent. Plan and oversee special programming. Negotiate contracts with agents. Selected Highlights Maximized the exposure, synergy and efficacy of cross-platform initiatives. Collaborated with ESPNEWS, SportsCenter, and ESPN Radio. Coordinated special guests, including multiple Hall of Famers.Developed and executed a number of successful multi-platform initiatives, including Greatest Franchise Player and the 100th Anniversary of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Consistently delivered unique, fresh content and analysis of breaking controversies and news stories, including instant replay, ash vs. maple bats, and steroids.

Bristol Ct.

Supervised the Sportscentury documentary series from 2000 - 2008, created the original boxing series "Ringside", and oversaw most of the programming at ESPN Classic. Also supervised Baseball Tonight and ESPNEWS from 2008 - 2011.

Directed a 40-person staff, with overall responsibility for the content and quality of programming on this ESPN-affiliated cable network, featuring classic sports. Areas of accountability included: planning, programming, scheduling, script approval, interviewing, staff management/evaluation and interaction with ESPN's other networks and departments. Provided editorial direction to programming, which included: SportsCentury (the premier sports documentary series of its time, with 150+ shows); Cheap Seats (a comic look at off-beat sporting events); Who's #1? (a series of 39 programs over an 18 month span which featured countdowns on a variety of sports topics) and live Road Show Specials from the Super Bowl, Final Four and the World Series. Built a staff of capable people who on a daily basis applied their imagination, energy and talent to produce television which is powerful and innovative. Selected Highlights Provided leadership to ESPN Classic, tripling its viewer base, from 20 million to 60 million homes, within seven years. Played a key role in many decisions involving programming, content and editorial tone. Helped to build ESPN Classic around the SportsCentury franchise, one of the most ambitious and award-winning programs in the history of sports journalism. Spearheaded the innovative 'value added' concept of giving viewers specialized information on films and acting talent on the "bottom line" of the screen for "Reel Classics", hosted by Burt Reynolds, giving that series it's unique identity and value in the marketplace. Conceived and developed "Ringside", a series of eighteen three-hour programs taped at Gleason's Gym on the history of boxing. Series is now being sold as a major DVD initiative. Conceptualized and produced "Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story", on the 25th anniversary of the Mancini-Kim fight.

Oversaw the production and editorial direction of the major live news and information programs at ESPN, including SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and Outside the Lines. Directed staffs of up to 40+. Responsibilities included reporter assignments, budgets, writing scripts, editing features, conducting interviews, approving budgets and working with on-camera hosts. Selected Highlights Key contributor to all aspects of the concept, planning and development of "Baseball Tonight" into its status as the premier baseball highlight program in the country. Helped to spearhead the move towards providing nearly instantaneous in-game highlights as the program's unique signature. Worked to shape the development of ESPN's top baseball analysts, including Peter Gammons, Steve Phillips and John Kruk. Driving force in the planning and development of "Outside the Lines" into the leading long-form topical program in sports journalism. Helped shape the program's unique ability to frame social issues which impact the world of sports. Played a major role in the re-invention of SportsWeekly and its development as one of the highest rated program blocks on ESPN.

Master'S Degree, American Literature

Bachelor Arts, English/Communications